better。〃
They communicated the intelligence to Mr。 Seagrave when they were outside。 He at once perceived their danger； so they held a council； and came to the following resolutions：
That it would be necessary that they should immediately stockade the storehouse； so as to render it impossible for any one to get in； and that； as soon as the fortification was complete； the storehouse should be turned into their dwelling…house； and such stores as could not be put within the stockade should be removed to their present house； or concealed in the cocoa…nut grove。
It was decided that nothing should be begun on that day； Saturday； that Sunday should be spent in devout prayer for help and encouragement from the Almighty； who would do towards them as his wisdom should ordain； and that on Monday； with the blessing of God； they would recommence their labour。
〃I don't know why； but I feel more courage now that there is a prospect of danger； than I felt when there was little or none；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃How little do we know what the day may bring forth！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Seagrave。 〃How joyful were our anticipations when the vessel hoisted her colours！ we felt sure that we were to be taken off the island。 The same gale that drove the vessel away brought down to us the island women。 The fair weather after the gale； which we hoped would have brought back the vessel to our succour； on the contrary enabled the women to escape in the canoe； and make known our existence to those who may come to destroy us。 How true it is that man plans in vain； and that it is only by the Almighty will and pleasure that he can obtain his ends！〃
Chapter XLV
But although they resolved as stated in the last chapter； nothing was done。 Finally； one morning at sunrise； as they were looking round with the telescope； close to the turtle…pond； Masterman Ready said to Mr。 Seagrave； 〃Indeed； sir； we must no longer remain in this state of idleness； I have been thinking a great deal of our present position and prospects； as to the vessel coming back； we must； at present； give up all hopes of it。 I only wish that we were quite as sure that we shall not have a visit from the savages： that is my great fear； and it really haunts me； the idea of our being surprised some night； and Mrs。 Seagrave and the dear children； perhaps； murdered in their beds； is awful to reflect upon。〃
〃God help us！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Seagrave； covering up his face。
〃God will help us； Mr。 Seagrave； but at the same time it is necessary that we should help ourselves； he will give his blessing to our exertions； but we cannot expect that miracles will be performed for us； and if we remain as we now are； inactive； and taking no steps to meet the danger which threatens us； we cannot expect the divine assistance。 We have had a heavy shock； but it is now time that we recover from it； and put our own shoulders to the wheel。〃
〃I agree with you； Ready；〃 replied William； 〃indeed I have been thinking the same thing for many days past。〃
〃We have all been thinking of it； I believe；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃I'm sure I have lain awake night after night； considering our position and what we ought to do； but I have never been able to come to any satisfactory resolution。〃
〃No more have I till last night； Mr。 Seagrave； but I think that I have now something to propose which； perhaps； will meet with your approval；〃 replied Ready； 〃so now； sir； suppose we hold another council； and come to a decision。〃
〃I am most willing； Ready；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； sitting down upon a rock； 〃and as you are the oldest； and moreover the best adviser of the three； we will first hear what you have to propose。〃
〃Well then； Mr。 Seagrave； it appears to me that it will not do to remain in the house； for we may； as I have said； be surprised by the savages at any hour in the night； and we have no means of defence against numbers。〃
〃I feel that； and have felt it for some time；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave。 〃What shall we do； then； shall we return to the cove？〃
〃I should think not； sir；〃 said Ready； 〃what I propose is this： we have made a discovery on the south of the island； which is of great importance to us； not that I consider the fruit and other plants of any great value； as they will only serve to increase our luxuries； if I may so call them； during the summer season。 One great advantage to us； is the feed which we have found for our live stock； and the fodder for them during the rainy season； but principally； the patch of yams； which will afford us food during the winter。 They are of great importance to us； and we cannot too soon protect them from the pigs； which will certainly root them all up； if we do not prevent them。 Now； sir； you know what we had arranged to do； but which we have not done； I think the cocoa…nut rails will take too much time； and it will be sufficient to make a ditch and hedge round the yams； but it will be very tedious if we are to go backwards and forwards to do the work； and Mrs。 Seagrave and the children will be left alone。 I therefore propose； as the weather is now set in fair； and will remain so for months； that we pitch our tents on that part of the island； and remove the whole family there； we shall soon be very comfortable； and at all events much safer there than if we remain here； without any defence；〃
〃It is an excellent plan； Ready； we shall； as you say； be removed from danger for the time； and when there； we may consider what we had best do by and by。〃
〃Yes； sir。 Those women may not have gained the other island； it is true； for they had the wind right against them for several days after they went away in the canoe； and； moreover； the current sets strong this way； but if they have； we must expect that the savages will pay us a visit； they will； of course； come direct to the house； if they do come。〃
〃But； Ready； you don't mean to say that we are to leave this side of the island altogether； and all our comfortable arrangements？〃 said William。
〃No； William； not altogether； for now I come to the second part of my proposition。 As soon as we have done our work at the yam plantation； and made everything as comfortable there as we can； I think we may then leave Mrs。 Seagrave and the children in the tents； and work here； As we before agreed； let us abandon the house in which we live at present； and fit out the outhouse which is concealed in the cocoa…nut grove； as a dwelling…house； and fortify it so as to be secure against any sudden attack of the savages： for； return here we must； to live； as we cannot remain in the tents after the rainy season sets in。〃
〃How do you propose to fortify it； Ready？〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃I hardly know。〃
〃That I will explain to you by and by； sir。 Then； if the savages come here； at all events we should be able to defend ourselves with fire…arms； one man behind a stockade is better than twenty who have no other arms but spears and clubs； and we may； with the help of God； beat them off。〃
〃I think your plan is excellent； Ready；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃and that the sooner we begin； the better。〃
〃That there is no doubt of； sir。 Now； the first job is for William and me to try for the passage through this side of the reef with the boat； and then we will look for the little harbour which we discovered； as soon as that is done； we will return and take the tents and all we require round in the boat； and when we have pitched the tents and all is arranged； Mrs。 Seagrave and the children can walk through the wood with us； and take possession。〃
〃Let us not lose an hour； Ready； we have lost too much time already；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave。 〃What shall we do to…day？〃
〃After breakfast； William and I will take the boat； and try for the passage。 You can remain here； packing up the tents and such articles as must first be carried round。 We shall be back； I hope； by dinner…time。〃
They then rose； and walked towards the house； all felt relieved in their minds； after they had made this arrangement； satisfied that they would be using all human endeavours to ward off the danger which threatened them； and might then put their confidence in that Providence who would； if he thought fit； protect them in their need。
Chapter XLVI
The subject was introduced to Mrs。 Seagrave； while they were at breakfast； and as she perceived how much more secure they would be； she cheerfully consented。 In less than an hour afterwards； William and Ready had prepared the boat； and were pulling out among the rocks of the reef to find a passage； which； after a short time； and by keeping two or three cables from the point； they succeeded in doing。
〃This is very fortunate； William；〃 observed Ready； 〃but we must now take some marks to find our way in again。 See； the large black rock is on a line with the garden point： so； if we keep them in one； we shall know that we are in the proper channel； and now for a mark abreast of us； to find out when we enter it。〃
〃Why； Ready； the corner of the turtle…pond just touches the right wall of the house；〃 replied William。
〃So it does； that will do； and now let us pull away as hard as we can； so as to be back in good time。〃
They soon were on the south side of the island； and pulling up along the shore。
〃How far do you think that it is by water； Ready？〃
〃I hardly know； but at least four or five miles； so we must make up our minds to a good hour's pull。 At all events； we shall sail back again with this wind； although there is but little of it。〃
〃We are in very deep water now；〃 observed William； after a long silence。
〃Yes； on this side of the island we must expect it； the coral grows to leeward only。 I think that we cannot be very far from the little harbour we discovered。 Suppose we leave off rowing for a minute； and look about us。〃
〃There are two rocks close to the shore； Ready；〃 said William； pointing； 〃and you recollect there were two or three rocks outside of the harbour。〃
〃Very true； William； and I should not wonder if you have hit upon the very spot。 Let us pull in。〃
They did so； and； to their satisfaction； found that they were in the harbour； where the water was as smooth as a pond。
〃Now； then； William； we will step the mast； and sail back at our leisure。〃
〃Stop one moment； Ready； give me the boat…hook。 I see something betwe